Travel Guide, Itineraries, Maps, Charts, Parks and Camping Cruises. Places to go.
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9/30/2018
Two Perfect, Almost Secret Coves
The problem is that our charts do not show all there is to know.
Lummi Island Campground:
This is a small five site waterfront campground within the 650 plus acre Lummi Island Conservation Area. It is a very hard to find place, the picture posted and my description will be your best resource for finding your way.
For those of you new to the area, Lummi Island is that big land mass blocking your way to just about everywhere when you put in at Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham.
The campground is near the south end of Lummi on the east side. Your NOAA based chart will show Smugglers Cove, Inati Bay, Reil Harbor in that order, just south of the small Reil inlet is an even smaller cove. There is no name but your chart should have a little boat symbol which is the icon for a mooring area but don't get your hopes up, this is a dinky little cove that will require a stern tie or anchor to keep you from swinging onto the rocks. You can pull off a 2 to 1 rode lunch stop if your lucky. It is unlikely two boats can coexist unless they raft.
By now you should have figured out this place is perfect for kayakers, but you can squeeze in. The dinghy beach is gravel. Use the campfire rings and composter outhouse. There is even a loop trail to hike.
Look for this sign as you coast along the shore, it is high up on the bluff on the right side of the cove facing somewhat southward.
The pic looks big but from the water the sign is small and easy to miss. |
For spending any time here you will want to tie to shore or drop a stern anchor |
9/10/2018
Excellent Eight Day Cruise Over Labor Day Weekend 2018
Because of a hectic summer with two weddings and a Boston trip we almost stayed home, but just before Labor Day I said lets go or forever wish we had. On the morning of our departure we were battening down and about to hit I-5 north when a neighbor came walking by. He is also a San Juan traveler so we ended up talking for two hours.
Finally heading out, we immediately stopped to fill the trucks 33 gallon tank, next stop besides the usual rest areas was Seattle where we picked up another 29 gallons. It is always a shock to find out we only have a few gallons left when I am hauling 10,000 lbs. Next stop was Winco in Tulalip where we purchased our entire food and beverage supply. No shopping list for us, we just walked the aisles and filled the cart with everything we liked, except we forgot to get a sack of ice for our drinks even though we talked about it in the check out line.
We arrived in Bellingham about two hours before sundown, took the port of Bellingham exit and went straight to Fred Meyers for the forgotten ice. I am thinking, I hope this 30-40 minute delay doesn't bite us, especially after losing 2 hours gabbing at home. (see, no stress for me!)
Splashing the boat and parking in the free lot was a breeze as it always is, but hosing down my salty trailer got me all wet because the water hose is full of holes. ( zero kudos to Squalicum Harbor staff in charge of wash down hoses.)
Staying at the transient dock and paying the tourist per foot fee just didn't interest me this trip, I wanted to get underway. I said to Linda, we have one solid hour of daylight and I can anchor in the dark at Inati Bay if I have to, so off we went. We arrived at Inati Bay on Lummi Island almost exactly at sunset. I set the anchor in fifteen feet, thirty feet from shore, opened the first box of wine and broke out the barbecue as darkness settled around us. I remember looking at the ink black water and the nearby shore cliffs blending together and thinking how anchoring in the dark would have meant dropping the hook a lot further out.
Day 2. Got the coffee dripping first thing. Last night was great, stars were out. Actually slept in a little. We listened to the weather radio for conditions expected if we head for Victoria. Sounds like a go but I'm not sure. With deteriorating conditions expected that evening we might be headed into a gale if the front blows in early, but at this point I am set for going to Victoria.
We up anchor and head south around Lummi so I can get a better picture of the Lummi Island Campground sign (takes two minutes), when we clear the south end and head northwest, I'm staring right at Clark Island, Clark is another on my bucket list of places I need new pictures for my planned updated Cruising Guide. We grab a buoy at Clark and dinghy ashore. I haven't changed my negative opinion of Clark but I did get the pics I wanted. Linda thinks I'm unfairly maligning Clark but I am more convinced than ever that putting a state park in the middle of Rosario Strait is a dumb, bordering on dangerous idea.
8/21/2018
Who owns the Shoreline above and below the high tide line in the San Juan Islands?
For the most part, you may anchor anywhere you want, except vessel navigation channels and marked farms. It doesn't take much common sense to figure out not to anchor in the middle of a boat congested narrow thoroughfare, (marked or not) but some daydreamers will do just that.
Just because it’s legal to anchor doesn't make it a good idea. You can walk most beaches, below the normal high water line, but many properties own the adjacent tidelands and may or may not be marked. Not all shorelines have beaches and so private land will extend to the water’s edge. Most of the dry land (above high water) is private and you will be trespassing if you come ashore and hike into the woods. Some landowners don’t care if you come ashore, and some do. Many will have signs that alert you to their wishes and you should respect their wishes. If it were me I would not anchor off shore from a sign that said no trespassing, why ruffle someone’s feathers by anchoring or walking in their backyard.
7/22/2018
Inconsiderate Boating
Stop, don't read further if you don't want to hear my rants. My current boat leaves a huge wake at times. I know because I can see it and I admit have had a few radio calls chastising me. I also know how to minimize or eliminate my wake entirely and so do all the other skippers out there.
So here's the rub, why are there so many witless morons creating monster wakes where they cause damage? I don't believe for a second that they aren't aware of their wake. I believe they are jerks and inconsiderate asses that don't deserve the privilege of driving a boat.
I'm not saying to drive slow or at no wake speed all the time, I'm saying to pay attention to the damage your wake is doing. Not only are you being an ass but you are liable for damage or injury caused by your negligent driving.
If your wake swamps or rolls a small boat, you are liable. If your wake smashes a moored boat into a float causing damage, you are liable. If your wake capsizes a kayak causing a drowning, you will be held liable and probably go to jail.
If you think this is only true in marked no-wake zones, think again, you are wrong. You are responsible for your wake damage anywhere and everywhere, marked or not. That 200 foot rule many signs and publications tout is not your free pass to be irresponsible, your are still liable for damage your wake causes.
There, I'm done.
7/04/2018
Is a Bag of Beans the best way to insure Boating Pleasures?
This brings me to bean bag chairs and boats. This unnamed world cruiser said that his favorite chair for his boat was a bean bag. A bean bag, you’re kidding, do they still make them? Well, yes they make them and $20 later I had a brand new bean bag chair for my 28 foot sloop. I store it in the v-berth along with bags of sails. My kids quickly learned that it conformed to uneven decks, it could be crammed against shrouds, masts and stanchions, and made uncomfortable cockpit combings a thing of the past. The bean bag chair has become a must have piece of cruising/camping equipment on my boats, and while it’s true, storage is limited, tough decisions have to be made -- the bag-o-beans wins out even if it means leaving the 150 Genoa home.
6/21/2018
The Fastest Way to the San Juans On Your Own Boat Begins in Anacortes at Washington Park or Cap Sante
There are several other places I recommend over these two depending on where I'm going and other plans.
Take a look at this post >> Trailer boat ramps
4/23/2018
Is Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham the best way to get to the San Juan Islands? - YES!
3/10/2018
Victoria Cruise Itinerary and Customs at Roche Harbor
and San Juan Islands Stop Overs
- places to launch and stay on your boat
- distances between stops
- customs and immigration
- alternate planning
- what to expect
- basic boating information
read more
2/23/2018
Wiring shackles with seizing wire
Well when I anchored my day sailor for the summer, I threw together a folding anchor, six feet of chain, some twenty feet of old trucker floating line, an old fender for a float and set the whole thing in about eight feet of water. But first I hooked the chain and rode together with a galvanized shackle. I tightened the shackle pin with a wrench.
My only worry was too much rode and she might swing onto shore at low tide. My little cove is subject to about two feet of tide, no rogue wakes, no current and very little wind.
After about two weeks of coming and going by dinghy, and sailing on and off my poor mans mooring, I was pretty used to and confident my set up was there to stay. Then one afternoon when I showed up I noticed my anchor line was changed. Suspicious, I leaned over the side of the dinghy and yanked to the surface my anchor except it wasn't my folding anchor, it was some cast iron thing I have never seen. I put it back, left my dinghy at the fender float and went sailing, all the time pondering what was going on.
At dusk I came in and switched back to the dinghy, on my way out of the cove I swung by a young chap working on his boat and inquired if he knew anything about my missing anchor and rode.
He said yes, he had noticed my boat was floating free one day and using a spare anchor he put it back where it belonged. I thanked him profusely and brought him a bottle of rum the next day.
The lesson I learned that day was to use seizing wire even for temporary things if failure is unacceptable. I also learned how smart my choice of the quiet cove was for my anchor buoy and that I still had some paying forward credits after all.
FYI - A few days later from the dinghy, I probed the muddy bottom for two hours with my 12 foot boat hook and snagged my gear getting it all back including the shackle and loose pin. I replaced the borrowed anchor and this time I wired the pin, and that's my story.
2/01/2018
Jones Island is the Absolute Best Marine Park in the San Juans - Period
1/05/2018
IDEAS for this summers cruises in the San Juans
Readers remind me that some places I suggest and visit myself are technically not part of the San Juan's. When I look at my list I see only three or four
that are truly San Juan Island's destinations. That's why the web site title includes "Surrounding Area"
Note: these are not ideas I am suggesting for you, they are places I am thinking about for me.
If you are a newbie, you should go to tried and true hot spots like Roche - Friday - Jones - Sucia - La Conner - Deception Pass. Use the search box - it's all there and then some.
If you have been around the San Juan's awhile you may be looking for new ideas, that's what my list is about.
My short list for 2018
- I would like to spend a few days anchored at False Creek in Vancouver (we really enjoyed Granville Island and Stanley Park) (60 miles, one way) - ouch
- Explore West Sound, we haven't entered West Sound for fifteen years. I guess it has been a drive by sound for us. I want to check out the marina and possibly see about making a bike/hike ride to one of the Turtleback Mt trailheads.
- Hike Vendovi Preserve. This little jaunt will happen for sure.
- Visit Lummi Island (we biked it in 2017, it's really flat and easy, I want to do it again)
- Visit Victoria - Last time we had three little kids with us and lots of pea soup fog, just the two of us should be easier if we can avoid any fog.
- Hike Eagle Bluff (closed every year until after July 15)
- Take a shot again at bike hiking up Mt Constitution, probably start at Olga this time
- I am thinking of skipping 4th of July, but Lopez is on my radar if we go anywhere
- maybe go see Nanaimo or some Gulf Island Parks (means a lot of motoring) I doubt this will happen. (we went to Newcastle Park many years ago and had fun, but like Vancouver, it's a lot of motoring) maybe we can ride the current both ways.
- Might want to anchor at Smallpox Bay for a night and do some orca watching.
To see what we ended up doing, click here
12/26/2017
Five Things Everyone Should Know Before Cruising the San Juan Islands
Fun Observations and Frivolous Knowledge for
All Boaters new to the San Juan's (repost)
#1 Hugely fluctuating water levels (tides)
NOAA tide forecasts
San Juan and Gulf Islands Current Atlas
See the ferry approaching the anchored sailboat? |
Sailing in April rain with reefed main |
Fourth of July celebration in the San Juan Islands at Roche Harbor Resort |
12/02/2017
Free Camping in the San Juan Islands
- Pelican Beach on Cypress Island
- Cypress Head on Cypress Island
- Lummi Campground on Lummi Island
- Pt Doughty on Orcas Island
- Griffin Bay on San Juan Island
Griffin Bay free camping |
Cypress Head point creates a nice protected bay with anchor balls and a very dinghy and kayak friendly gravel beach. Trails connecting to the the rest of the island are across the narrow isthmus. |
This free waterfront campground on Cypress Island is very popular with kayakers, power boaters, sail boaters, everyone likes Pelican Beach. It even has ADA compliant composting toilets. The shore is lined with about half a dozen campsites, each with tables and fire rings, directly offshore are anchor buoys. The easy trail up to the top of Eagle Bluff begins at the water edge. To find Pelican Beach simply follow the east side of Cypress Island north about one mile past the Eagle Harbor anchorage. If you run past the end of the island, turn around, you're a quarter mile too far. Here are the coordinates. 48.603400 N, 122.704134 W
That's it for free camping in the San Juan Island area. The Washington DNR has lots more free camping in other areas that are highway accessible.
11/01/2017
Cypress Island trail map
To view larger image, try right clicking and open in new window and then look for plus/minus icon.
The best way, is clicking or pasting the url below and you may then enlarge the image without it being blurry.
https://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/amp_rec_updated_cypress_island_trail_map.pdf?yh0w7u
Cypress Island trail map |
10/27/2017
Important Camping Equipment - List - for Boat Camping
Some of the items don't belong in a gear box (like clothing) but should be listed.
For those of you that need more, try my
Mother of all packing lists - click here > Mother of all packing lists